Back Row with Amy Odell10 Nov 2025

Was Jane Birkin Unfairly Commodified by Hermès?

Amy interviews Marisa Meltzer, author of It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin, about how Birkin became one of the most famous fashion icons of the sixties. Marisa talks about how she became the inspiration and namesake for the Hermès Birkin bag, and whether or not she was ever paid for this distinction. She also reveals how Birkin really felt about the Birkin bag becoming more famous than her — and much more. (1:19) An excerpt from the audiobook of Amy's latest book, Gwyneth: The Biography (2:52) Jane Birkin's early life and upbringing, including how she met her husband John Barry when she was 17; and how she ended up moving from London to Paris and meeting Serge Gainsbourg (6:55) Birkin's significance as an icon of Swinging 1960s London (8:28) Birkin was an It girl in the pre-tech age. Can you reverse-engineer being an It girl today? Or does the algorithm sap people of the required mystery? (12:09) How romantic relationships vault It girls like Birkin and Gwyneth Paltrow. (14:14) The Birkin bag origin story. (18:57) Did Hermès unfairly co-opt Birkin's name for a massively profitable bag? How did she feel about it? (22:16) How much Hermès paid Birkin for use of her name. (25:57) How Birkin handled aging out of her It girl status. (Or did she become an It dame?) (31:00) Was Jane Birkin ambitious? (32:34) Amy and Marisa play a game: It girl or not an It girl? Featuring: Alix Earle, Lauren Sánchez, Anna Wintour, Apple Martin, and more. Links & resources: Amy Odell's Back Row newsletter It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin, by Marisa Meltzer Listen to Amy's book Gwyneth: The Biography in Apple, Spotify, and Audible. Check out Amy's biography of Anna Wintour, Anna: The Biography. Credits: Produced by Amy Odell. Edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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